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A mother whose son was gunned down by robbers as he fought to protect his parents yesterday described his killers as ‘mindless dregs’.

Judith Hodson-Walker spoke out as three men were convicted of sub-postmaster Craig’s murder during a botched raid on their family-run village store. Mr Hodson-Walker, 29, was shot through the heart as he tried to fend off the masked gang at the post office and general stores in January.

Christopher Morrissey has been convicted of murdering Craig Hodson Walker

His father Ken was also shot during the raid – sustaining a wound to his left shin. A jury found Christopher Morrissey, 32, his brother Declan Morrissey, 34, and Anselm Ribera, 34, guilty of murder following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

They were also convicted of attempting to murder Ken Hodson-Walker. ‘They took away Craig’s right to live, so why should they have any right to live? Bring back hanging,’ said Mrs Hodson-Walker, 57, outside court.

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‘Make the deterrent harder, make people think twice before they go to commit a crime.’ Craig’s fiancee Lisa Bundy, 26, and his mother read impact statements to the judge, in which they both said they no longer live, but merely ‘exist’. Miss Bundy said she and Mr Hodson-Walker, of Fairfield, Worcestershire, had been planning their wedding and were looking to move in together. A fourth defendant, Adrian Snape, was cleared of both charges but pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, admitting he was the getaway driver.